4.15 — “First Contact”
Plot: Commander Riker wakes up on a gurney in an alien hospital with critical injuries. His reconnaissance mission for a potential first contact mission has gone wrong, and he is a prisoner (again, after TNG 3.4, “Who Watches the Watchers?” Carelessness!). Riker’s disappearance forces Picard and Troi to accelerate first contact protocols in an effort to salvage the situation; however, their presence could seriously disrupt the politics of the planet.
Thoughts: This episode is notable for being told in the point of view of the alien culture. Good work! I like to think that TOS would have done this story. The set building, props, and costumes required may have exceeded the 1960s budget, however. TNG.keeps setting new standards in Season Four.
That’s Bebe Neuwirth playing Lanel the Malcorian, who always wanted to make love with an alien. The episode was shot during the run of Cheers (1982-1993), where she was appearing as Lilith. I’m glad they didn’t specify what passed between her and Riker. He might have just tricked her! Or, the carefully negotiated detente at the end may be spoiled by the appearance of Riker’s love child.
Incorporating humor and gags can be tricky; I think they found the right balance here. Fortunately, Jonathan Frakes has learned not to smirk (but wait! the smirk will return next episode!). Depicting a first contact mission seriously in light of the prime directive is a great concept. It just goes to expose in retrospect how bad “Who Watches the Watchers” was.
There is a shift in the prime directive, however. In the past, it has referred to a rule forbidding interference with pre-warp societies. Here, the Directive is described more broadly as “not interfer[ing] with the natural development of your planet.” It seems sensible to have a more nuanced rule than a bright line you suddenly cross between hands off and anything goes. Read literally, however, the new formulation would seem to exclude all possibility of commerce or exchange of technology, ideas, art, or literature. Is this allowed only after a civilization joins the Federation, or when it advances to the point of being able to engage in arms-length bargaining? Tricky business, especially if there are competing interests, like the old rivalry between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.
The story of this episode is simplified greatly by the assumption that there is only one planetary government, ruled by a single dictator with absolute authority. Otherwise, we’d need a mini-series, not an episode. I’m skeptical of the decision to purposefully delay production of technical advancements (possibly life saving ones?) out of a belief that the society isn’t ready to handle the truth. Cover-ups and censorship usually do more damage than anything else.
Still, I’m happy to give this episode 4.5 out of 5 interspecies hospital trysts.
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